Thoughts of Resentment
Traditionally attributed to Dongfang Shuo
Loyal people and fragrant things
The phoenix would depart, but the road is blocked.
This brief poem compresses loyal suffering and discarded fragrance, moving from people to plants and birds. A blocked departure prevents withdrawal from becoming an easy solution.
A human recitation has not been added for this poem yet.
贤士穷而隐处兮，廉方正而不容。
Worthy men, reduced to poverty, live in hiding, and the honest and upright find no place in the world.
子胥谏而靡躯兮，比干忠而剖心。
Wu Zixu lost his life for his remonstrance, and Bi Gan had his heart cut out for his loyalty.
子推自割而飤君兮，德日忘而怨深。
Jie Zitui cut flesh from his own body to feed Duke Wen of Jin, yet his kindness was forgotten day by day and his resentment deepened.
行明白而曰黑兮，荆棘聚而成林。
My conduct is clear and bright, yet it is called black; the slanderers gather like thorns and brambles until they form a forest.
江离弃于穷巷兮，蒺藜蔓乎东厢。
The fragrant lovage is thrown away in a mean back lane, while the thorny caltrop creeps over the eastern wing of the house.
贤者蔽而不见兮，谗谀进而相朋。
The worthy are screened off and cannot see the king, while slanderers and flatterers are advanced and band together.
枭鸮并进而俱鸣兮，凤皇飞而高翔。
The owls press forward together and hoot in chorus, and the phoenix flies off to soar on high.
原壹往而径逝兮，道壅绝而不通。
I wish to go once to my king, speak my loyal counsel and then depart straight away, but the road is choked and cut off and will not let me through.
Even departure remains unavailable at the close.